I spent last night in the home of a non-member sister and her member husband as they bid goodbye to their 3 1/2 year old son. He had passed away just minutes before I arrived and the newness of their grief was a physical presence in the room. Because they do not have an understanding of the gospel yet and are at this time unaware of the significance of the blessings of the temple the finality of this loss was even greater.

I give you this background so you will understand the great gift of service and compassion given by the visiting teachers, compassionate service leaders, Relief Society presidency and Priesthood leaders in this ward. These selfless sisters and brothers do not look at this family as a project. They have over the past few months since they found them developed an abiding love for this family. Now at a time of greatest need this sweet mother knew immediately she could reach out to her new “Mormon Girlfriends” and find help.

This calling of Visiting Teacher is as divine a calling as the greatest office in the church. As we are selected to serve one another it is with the awareness of our Heavenly Father. He cannot be here to do it Himself so he has us as his arms, hands, and legs to do his work on earth.

As the flowers and cards will pour in over the next few days and this young family comes to accept their loss they will also have the constant reassurance of loving sisters who are coming with food and cleaning service and babysitting for the other children. They have already had the comfort of a priesthood blessing. These quiet services will prepare this family to someday embrace the gospel and its message of eternal union. More than any other gift these beautiful sisters have told this young mother that they love her and will stand by her always. They aren’t qualifying their love with an insistence on her membership in our church. This is truly Christ-like, unconditional love.

I am so grateful for this divine program and the sisters who have a testimony of it.

Michele Hamilton

Posted by John in Home Teaching, Visiting Teaching, HT-Experiences, VT-Experiences